Dale and Jena Forehand

As we celebrate Advent, the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we take this week to look at His Love.....amazing, pure, and perfect.

1 John 3:1

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

We have some understanding as parents what manner of love Mary and Joseph had as they protected the Christ-child from King Herod. We deeply love our children. But this love was nothing to be compared with the perfect love of God that sent His Son from the perfect glories of Heaven, all He had ever known, to come for one sole purpose: death for our sin. Wow, what a love!

We cannot begin to fathom this depth of love because we seldom see it in those around us that we come into contact with. We may even find ourselves frustrated because people are so unloving sometimes. But the Scripture above says that the world does not know that love and thus we don't need to expect that love from them. What we must do is ask the Holy Spirit to give us that love, HIS LOVE, to give away to others, instead of expecting it from others.

"GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE...."

May you recognize the deep love of our Savior and offer yourselves as vessels of that love to others this Christmas season.

Advent (from the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming") is a season of the Western Christian churches, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus; in other words, the period immediately before Christmas.

Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming. Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting that Christians today endure for the second coming of Christ.

Advent is important for you and your family to observe as it makes the birth of Jesus and His return the focal point and center of your Christmas, instead of toys and gifts and trees and lights. There are several advents devotional books as well as online advent calendars and devotions to choose from. You can find them at any Christian Bookstore as well.

May you begin this month of celebrating our Lord and Savior's birth today, and daily be reminded of the deep love for you that sent Jesus to you for your salvation.